Rival’s dramatic Ash Barty accusation as Aussie crashes to shock defeat

Ash Barty tasted consecutive defeats for the first time in 13 months as the umpire warned her opponent for throwing allegations around.

Ash Barty tasted consecutive defeats for the first time in 13 months after a shock elimination at the Adelaide International, but her rival was still fuming about the on-court action.

The World No. 1 was blasted off court by a red-hot Danielle Collins in just over an hour on Wednesday night at Memorial Drive.

The defending champion was sent packing in the second round — after receiving a bye in the first round — leaving the 24-year-old suddenly needing to pull her 2021 season out of a tailspin.

Far worse than the consecutive defeats is the manner of the 6-3 6-4 loss on Wednesday where Barty twice lost her way after leading with a break in both sets.

It leaves her No. 1 ranking under siege with Aussie Open champion Naomi Osaka breathing down her neck.

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Ash Barty is suddenly ice cold.

Barty was ahead 3-1 in the first set before Collins ran away with five straight service games.

It was a similar story in the second set where the American came from a break down to beat Barty for the first time.

Barty was ahead 4-2 before Collins closed it out by winning the final four service games.

Barty played a solid match with 13 winners and 18 unforced errors, but Collins was in rare form with 20 winners and 15 unforced errors.

However, the American accused the chair umpire of favouring Barty “because she’s Australian”, as the official urged her to watch what she was insinuating.

Facing two break points on her serve at 15-40, Collins complained she wasn’t allowed to challenge a Barty return which looked out, but was ruled in.

“The ball was a foot out,” Collins told umpire Tom Sweeney. “I hit three aces inside the singles line and then I didn’t get the point and the other girl did.

“Please challenge the call. The ball was a foot out.”

Sweeney maintained Collins took too long, prompting a furious reaction.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Collins said. “The ball was this far out. I’m sorry, it’s unacceptable.

“You’re doing it because she’s Australian.”

Sweeney then told Collins to “be careful in that sort of questioniing”.

Danielle Collins was furious.

The loss comes after Barty lost her way during her quarter-final exit at the Australian Open after taking the first set against Karolina Muchova.

After such a promising start to her Aussie summer where she won the Yarra Valley Classic in Melbourne as part of a nine-match winning streak, Barty has suddenly gone cold.

Barty was full of confidence in her ability to recover from the defeat in Melbourne, accepting

a wildcard into this year’s Adelaide event at the last minute.

It is the last time Barty will play in Australia before she heads overseas into the uncertainty of a 2021 WTA Tour that will be played in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She will first travel to the Middle East before making the journey to Miami shere she is defending 1000 rankings points as the defending champion.

Collins will face either Aussie Maddison Inglis or Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.